SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Thursday evening, Dr. Oliver Davis announced his campaign for state representative in Indiana's 7th district.

As a long-serving member of the South Bend Common Council, Dr. Davis emphasized his extensive local governance experience and commitment to public education, rural-urban balance, and protection of the environment.

"I've served on the South Bend Common Council 12 years as the sixth district councilman," said Dr. Davis. "...and now I'm in my third year covering the whole entire town, and I served almost 16 years on transport board, on the zoning board about 10 years, and on Maycock for about another five years. So been a variety of boards I've been on."

Dr. Davis has long advocated for local voices over corporate interests and urges local community leaders and members to continue speaking on pressing issues; he also emphasized the importance of local election voting.

"It is time for us to make a change in our district...We need somebody who understands the people, that will fight for the people, that will listen to the people," Dr. Davis continued. "We have to believe in our own children, our schools, our families."